First it is proper to obey the instructor and remember his instructions; rise above yourself. No matter how much you may study, if you cling to yourself you will not develop your ability.

Secondly, budo is for countering any attack from any direction at any time. When you are merely ready for only one opponent, without being prepared for others, it will be only a common fight. A tight, on-guard posture with an immovable spirit is the basis of every exercise in budo. People generally say, "That man behaves irreproachably," or "An excellent artist is completely on guard." Those who study Aikido should thus spend their daily life thoroughly on guard, even if they are not consciously watching every direction around them.

Thirdly, it is fairly painful to keep on studying earnestly. But if you keep up the discipline of budo without tiring, you will at last reach a really enjoyable stage. Some people misunderstand that it is best to suffer while studying, but real study is pleasant at all times. Concentrating ourselves, not having any harmful experiences, we are able to enjoy our practice sessions.

The forth rule relates to the assimilation of techniques. Aikido has a few thousand variations in its techniques. Some students are apt to chase after an accumulation of quantity rather than quality. However when they look back on themselves, they are sorry to learn that they have gained nothing. Soon they lose interest. As innumerable variations of each technique are possible we instructors always emphasize the significance of "repetition" to beginners. When you practice each basic technique, over and over again, you master it and then are able to use the variations.

When the Founder first came to Tokyo, among his earnest students was Admiral Isamu Takeshita. He wrote down all the techniques that he learned under the Founder. They amounted to more than two thousand, and yet there were more. He was deadlocked, finding that he could do none of them well. After careful consideration over several days, he understood the meaning of the Founder's advice "You should study, using the sitting exercises as your base." He practiced it and then at last became able to manage the techniques so well that he could acquire others which he had not yet been taught by his instructor. For an elderly man of sixty years, it is the same: repetition of the basics is the secret of improvement, no matter how awkward or unskillful one may be.

The fifth rule is not to contradict nature. Excessiveness is to be avoided in anything. Moderation is the key. No matter how little the excess is, the whole posture and the condition of the body will be unbalanced.

Young, lively students are apt to have the idea that they will not be strong unless they force their power. This is not true. Natural practice creates true strength. For this reason, it was possible for Dr. Niki, a man more than eighty years old, to practice Aikido.

Lastly, the aim of Aikido is not to merely produce a strong body but to create an integrated person. Any educated person knows how brute strength is meaningless in our present-day advanced civilization. For this reason the Founder forbade Aikido to be misused and severely cautioned everyone. He would not permit the publication of his art's techniques and required introductions and guarantees for each student.

In summary, those who wish to study Aikido should have a righteous and fair mind, obey their instructors, and study naturally. As a matter of consequence, their techniques will be skillfully cultivated in such an atmosphere and a noble character will be created.